Thursday, November 6, 2014

Michigan Thursday: How I See The Michigan Coaching Candidates

Brandon is gone, so step one is complete.  Step two is getting another AD in place ASAP.   I really don't see this as a difficult hire and there seems to be plenty of good candidates out there.   I really don't have a preference, just get one hired and don't allow this delay to hurt your chances at a tier one coach.    A tier one coach is a much more important hire then the AD. 

Michigan is 50/50 if they are going to beat Northwestern and Maryland at home.  They will probably be a two - three touchdown dog to OSU in Columbus.   The best the team can do now is get bowl eligible.   Even if they win two out of the last three last games, Hoke will not be retained next season.  

There are some people saying, "that if coach wins out" he could save his job.  I highly doubt either will happen.  Hoke is a good guy but he is a fit for Ball State not Michigan.   It's time to clean house. 

The question now is:  When do you fire Hoke?  A lot of course depends on when the new AD is in place.   Brandon made a huge mistake in not letting RR go after the OSU game and let Harbaugh win a bowl game and blow up as the top coaching candidate in football.    I don't see that being an issue this year as long as the new AD is working on who the new coach would be.  

Best Scenario:  Hoke announces his resignation after the OSU game, effective after the Blue Bonnet Bowl.  This would allow Michigan to recruit a new head coach and let Hoke coach the bowl game.  If Michigan doesn't make a bowl game, new or interim AD will need to move on replacing Hoke right away.

Tier 1 Coaches:

  1. Jim Harbaugh - Could it be the perfect storm for him coming back to A2? 
  2. John Harbaugh - Might have some interest but will stay in the NFL.  How many young Super Bowl winning coaches do you know that have gone back to college?
  3. Dan Mullen - Hot coach this year, blew out Michigan in the Gator Bowl a couple of years ago.  A big dollar offer could pull him from Miss. State.  He also knows Urban all to well. 
  4. Les Miles - I know he is a bit crazy and many in A2 hate him, but he is a big name and would probably take the job.   He can recruit and has a history of hiring very good coordinators.  If we get 3 no's above,  I think they have to take Les and run.  He could give Michigan a solid 5-7 years before retiring. 
Tier 2 Coaches
  1. Butch Jones - Has State of Michigan ties, but comes from the RR coaching tree.   He really hasn't done much at Tennessee and would be a risky hire.
  2. Todd Graham -  Has won everywhere he has coached at.  The problem is he has coached everywhere.   Another guy from the RR coaching tree.   I would not support this hire. 
  3. Mike Gundy - He is a Man! But does anyone really consider him a great coach?  His teams are competitive most years but that is about it. 
  4. Greg Schiano  - He accepted the Michigan job and then turned it down and then maybe tried to accept it again before RR was hired.    He left Rutgers for Tampa Bay and was pretty much the most hated coach in the NFL.   His stay there probably couldn't have gone worse.   He was always known as a good college coach, but really never achieved anything at Rutgers.  If you like Jimmy's style - Greg is a good fit.  There is just something that doesn't feel right about hiring Greg. 
  5. Charlie Weis- just kidding. 
  6. A Top NFL Coordinator - This list is long and would be hard to hire if their teams are in the playoffs.

If we get past Tier 1, we are in trouble folks.  Jimmy is the home run here and everyone knows it.   I would prefer Les for 5 years then fishing in Tier 2.   Michigan needs a coach that Meyer and Dantonio see as an equal, I don't see many of those guys in Tier 2. 


I'm not sure Jimmy makes it past another embarrassing loss like they had last Sunday.  If the 49'ers brass know they are going to fire him after the season and still think they can make the playoffs with a new attitude, Jimmy could be on the street sooner then we expect.  There will be NFL teams interested, so getting to him quickly and selling him on the Michigan turnaround is going to be key.   What would Bo want you to do Jim?

Another photo for no reason:

 
 
I had to add this great insight from Hoke's press conference yesterday:
 
With some of the struggles you guys have had on the road is there anything you can do or you're going to do differently to kind of get rid of that? 
     “I think the biggest thing we're going to do differently is take care of the football, because when you look at it I think we're -11 turnover margin on the road this year. That doesn't help. We're -2, which isn't great, at home but I think that has a big part in it. I think the familiarity with going back there. We understand the locker room, how to take the field. They did switch the sidelines this year where we'll be on the other side and they'll be across the way, which is different. I'm sure they had their reasons for doing it.”
 
 
Wow, coach that would be a great thing to change! 

11 comments:

Jim W. said...

Thanks for your good synopsis.

I would love to see Jimmy, but other than him are the odds above 20% for anyone else listed in tier 1?

I mean, as you stated, no way does John come. Miles, it seems too many in AA hate him and the new AD would need a serious backbone to consider him.

And there is Mullen...proven winner in SEC. Would be a great fit, but would he leave his current post?

To get any of the tier 1 coaches would probably take at least $5 mil. Is Michigan ready to open the purse strings? I hope so.

Well see how this plays out...

Anonymous said...

Our first priority is to get this football team on track. They do need the right AD in there, but all this Michigan man stuff has to stop, same for the little brother crap. The new AD and the new coach need to understand what's expected winning, MSU, OSU and the traditions we have. i.e. the #1 jersey, etc.

Brandon could have survived had there been better relations with the alumni & if the team was winning.

Big35Hurt said...

I really don't think it'll happen, but IF we did win out, I could see Hoke getting another year (unless Jim is available).

Scott K said...

Mullen would take the job is a mississippi minute... Miss St. isn't a destination, and as his first HC gig, he's built a team that competes with the big dogs of the sec....
Michigan, despite our recent history, is still a destination job for a young HC, especially one looking to make his mark. Can you imagine your second head coaching gig putting the Michigan train wreck back on track and bringing the program back to national contention?

I'm not on the Jim H. train, still can't forgive him for trashing the program while at Stanford... I think Dan Mullen is a perfect fit, a great coach, and the most likely hire.

Brad said...

Scott- You seem to be certain that if offered that Mullen would accept. Is that just a hunch our do you have evidence? Serious question, not being an dick. I just haven't come across anything that mentions a link between Mullen and Michigan other than Michigan might be looking soon and that Mullen would be a great candidate. One thing that may come back to hurt Michigan if Hoke is in fact fired is the way not only the University but its fan base treated the DB situation and the fans on going problems with current and past player relationships. Right wrong or indifferent some might be scared off. That along with the decline of the B10 could hurt the chances to land some. I do however absolutely agree that Michigan despite its recent struggles is a destination job for the right guy. Personally I think Michigan needs a guy like Hoke or JH who understands its tradition and most importantly its fan base and all that goes with that. The guy has to bleed maize and blue and ultimately win. Hoke obviously fits half that bill but apparently isn't a very good football coach. His declining record, lack of player development and inability to make in game adjustments speaks for it self. Evidence shoes however that JH both fits the mold and is a great coach. Mullen is a great up and coming coach but I don't think he is much better than Rich Rod. Both are great football minds and have been very successful against tough competition with less, but don't necessarily fit at Michigan. I believe that JH is the perfect fit. Plain and simple. To me he would be as big as Urban Meyer at Ohio. He would instantly recruit well, he would run a similar system, and he would have immediate success. Just my thoughts, hammer away.

Scott K said...

Being HC at Michigan, prior to the RR/Hoke era.... was one of the top 5 coaching gig's in NCAA football, i believe.

I think the 'ties to Michigan' B.S. is what has us where we are today.

The difference between Mullen and RR, to me, are pretty stark. RR was a long tenured HC, set in his ways and thinking. Mullen is a few years into a very promising HC career. In his very first HC gig he's made Miss St. relevant in the Sec. I'm pretty sure Sec fans have high expectations as well. If Harbaugh comes to A2, great. I don't know that he'll leave the NFL when he was so close to winning a Super Bowl and fell short. My guess is Harbaugh won't drop from the NFL to the NCAA, so in my opinion Mullen is the best option and is the most likely hire.
Why would he leave Miss ST.? I don't know, $$, to be the guy to turn the Michigan ship around, because it's a step up from Miss St... Dan Mullen has been around college football a long time, I would guess he is aware of Michigan's history and one time status.

No offense taken, and for all i know he wants to retire at Miss St.
I, like the rest of us here, want Michigan to be a national contender again.... I want us to be the team to beat in the Big 10... Whomever gets us there is fine with me. I like Mullen.

GO BLUE.

uncle ron said...

Are any of us ready to take over the helm at Michigan? Was just wondering.

Scott K said...

Can Cameron?

uncle ron said...

BINGO!! Scottie K

Bob said...

Les would be the face of the program, CAM would be the OC and pretty much the guy that runs everything.

Scott K said...

is it Cam that keeps Les from, well, being Les? He is 7 or 10 years younger than Les, if he wasn't hired away, he could be the continuity plan.

Ha Ha Ha